By Lydia Rosenfelder
The cost hammer! In Germany, the fuel discount and 9-euro ticket have slowed the rise in inflation somewhat, but the consequences are dramatic.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64, SPD) wants to forge an anti-inflation plan together with the trade unions and employers’ associations in the Chancellery on Monday, and has invited “concerted action” there.
Scholz wants to propose relieving employees with a tax-free one-off payment. But his proposal was heavily criticized by the trade unions beforehand.
An exclusive INSA survey for BILD am SONNTAG (1003 respondents on Friday) shows how urgently politicians must act now.
► 75 percent state that the price increases are a heavy or very heavy burden. For households with a net income of less than 2,000 euros, the figure is even 82 percent!
► 50 percent state that their economic situation has deteriorated this year. For 42 percent, it has remained the same, and for only seven percent it has improved. And: 46 percent expect things to continue to go downhill!
► Almost every second person (46 percent) has already postponed a major purchase this year because of the high prices.
► 91 percent of respondents state that they are already saving today, most of them on dining out (54 percent), buying clothes (50 percent) and on vacation (48 percent). 43 percent even save when buying groceries. Only nine percent of those surveyed state that they do not (yet) have to limit themselves.
Here is restricted
► Restaurant visits: 54 percent
► Clothing: 50 percent
► Vacation: 48 percent
► Bars/pubs: 47 percent
► Driving: 47 percent
► Food: 43 percent
► Water consumption (showers/baths): 40 percent
► Culture (cinema, museums, theatre): 40 percent
► Media subscriptions: 26 percent
► Not at all: 9 percent
How will autumn be?
And the INSA data shows something else: people are already afraid of winter! Every second German expects to have to freeze this winter.
This fear is probably not unfounded: Hamburg’s Environment Senator Jens Kerstan (56, Greens) is the first top politician to warn of hot water rationing for private households.
“In an acute gas shortage, warm water could only be made available at certain times of the day in an emergency,” Kerstan predicts in WELT am SONNTAG. It is also possible to lower the maximum room temperature in the district heating network.
According to Economics Minister Robert Habeck (52, Greens), Russian gas could be almost over in a week. From July 11, there is a threat of “a total blockade of Nord Stream 1,” said Habeck.
Because Gazprom wants to carry out the annual maintenance from July 11 to 21 on what is by far the most important pipeline for Germany.
During this time, no gas will flow through Nord Stream 1 to Germany. Whether it will continue after that: unclear. The Federal Network Agency considers a gas stop possible and calls for energy saving.
